right of violet/the other shore/sparks fly upward
| Format | CD |
| Country | USA |
| Recorded | 1995/1999/1998 |
| Issued | 1996/2000/1999 |
| Label | 9 Wind/Cryptogramophone |
| Cat no. | NWCD-0184/CG 106/CG 102 |
| Playing time | 75:49/73:43/- |
| Reviewer | Trond Gjellum |
| ALEX CLINE right of violet/the other shore/sparks fly upward |
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Alex Cline is a recognized American percussionist, composer and improviser who for many years have operated within the more experimental end of jazz and rock. On Right Of Violet and The Other Shore he co-operates with the guitarist G E Stinson and the violinist Jeff Gauthier, and on these recordings, improvisation is the issue. 70 minutes of improvisation can well become a suffering beyond compare, especially in the case of a psychedelic band jamming over an A major chord for forty-five minutes. Thankfully, this is not the case with Cline et co. If you know the dynamic and complex improvisations of King Crimson anno 1973, or the timbre-explorating excercises of Henry Cow from the same period, you have a clue. The musicians possess an incredible dynamic expression where nobody puts themselves in front on the expense of the others: One moment your hardly know something is being played, the next moment a musical storm is thrown against you with a power and pressure liable to scare you out of your wits. At times it sounds composed, but the booklet notes promise us that this definitely is improvised. Impressive, if you ask me.
On Sparks Fly Upwards Cline, Stinson and Gauthier have added a vocalist, plus keyboards and bass. The material on this record is composed, and is best described as a sort of "heavier ECM-sound". In other words, an epic, gradiose sound incorporating a lot of long tones relying heavily on atmosphere. The production of the ECM artist Peter Erskine also relates to to Manfred Eichers legendary productions, something which adds to the ECM mood. At times the pressure is enormous, but mostly the music is rather low-key with a certain wistful touch. It can be a somewhat relaxed experience, and the well over 70 minutes of music is best digested in small portions.
© 2001 Tarkus Magazine